Salvo Agria is a painter and according to him, art is the most liberating way of expressing oneself. He believes that a person doesn’t choose art, but that art chooses the person. He shows a painting that depicts three generations: a little girl, an adult woman, and an old woman.

Adriano tells us about the famous southern Italian folk dance, la tarantella. He also tries dancing it himself.

Our Maratea friends sing two very famous songs, by two equally famous singers, which continue to be sung by successive generations. We're talking about "Azzurro" [Blue] by Adriano Celentano and "L'italiano" [The Italian] by Toto Cutugno. Have fun listening!

Anna and Marika tell the first part of the story of Violetta and Alfredo, their falling in love and their decision to live in Paris together. But their happiness doesn't last...

Violetta writes a letter of farewell to Alfredo. He is miserable, but hears of a party where he is sure to see her. But there, things go from bad to worse. Alfredo ends up having to live abroad, and Violetta's illness gets much worse. Will they ever be able to embrace each other again?

Verdi's Rigoletto: intrigue, love, passion and cruelty. Brought to you by Anna and Marika.

Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto: more passion, intrigue, love, and cruelty at court. The curse is fulfilled!

Meet the characters from The Barber of Seville, an opera by Gioacchino Rossini that was first performed in 1816: brought to you by Anna and Marika.

Anna and Marika tell us the story of Rosina, who in the midst of deception and intrigue, ends up getting married. But to whom? The one she loves, or the one who wants her at all costs?

Magpies [gazze ladre] in folklore are known to be attracted by shiny things. Rossini's opera La Gazza Ladra recounts the story of Ninetta, a servant girl. She is wrongly accused of stealing the silverware that the family magpie stole.

Ninetta is in prison, condemned to death, and things are looking very bleak, indeed. Don't worry though; in the end, love and justice win out, and everyone except the magistrate lives happily ever after.

Anna and Marika are having lunch in the Trastevere quarter of Rome. Join them as they order traditional Roman pasta dishes and talk about Italian eating habits.

The Tiber Island is a charming quarter of Rome, especially in the summer, because the small bars, restaurants, discos and particularly the open-air movie theater make it an ideal spot for spending a nice evening.

Villa Borghese is a large park in Rome with plenty of green space, including landscape gardens in both Italian and English style, fountains, statues and a lake. It also offers museums, a café, and a cinema.

At the Villa Borghese there's lots you can do. There is something for everyone. Rent a bike, rickshaw or scooter, go rowing, take in some theater, or just relax!

Piazza del Popolo is one of Rome's most famous squares. It is at the foot of the Pincio Park. Three churches front on the piazza, two of which are famously known as the twins.

Anna takes us to Paris, to a cold, dark attic room where she tells the beginning of the tragic but very romantic story of La Bohème.

In this second and final segment of La Bohème, Anna, as Lucia, goes on to tell us about her life. What will become of her?

Anna tells us the tragic story of Cio-cio-san, protagonist of Madam Butterly, an opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. The opera was dedicated to the Queen of Italy, Elena di Montenegro.

Anna shares Giuseppe Verdi's tragic story of love, war and taboo in ancient Egypt.

Anna recounts the story of Tosca, an opera singer who is in love with the painter Cavaradossi. Puccini's opera was first performed in Rome in 1900.

Antonio is in Praia a Mare and talks to us about the cult of the Madonna della Grotta (Madonna of the Cave), patron saint of the city. The cult began in 1900, and every year in August the statue of the Madonna is carried in a procession, where many of the faithful take part.

In this video, Antonio speaks in more detail about Praia's Madonna of the Cave. He shows us the rock where the ship's captain set down the wooden statue in the 14th century and he shows us the room where the statue is now housed.

Marika and Arianna discuss their favorite book genres, authors, and why they like to read.